Paper-feeding machine.



No. 768,979. v PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904. T. G. DEXTER & H. HALLSTREAM.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED DEG. 29, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

'1 inc-o0 c a n u awn/tons,

No.'768,979. Patented August 30, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT Urrrcn.

TALBOT C. DEXTER AND HENRY HALLSTREAM, OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK; SAID HALLSTREAM ASSIGNOR TO SAID DEXTER.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,979, dated. August 30, 1904.-

Application filed December 29, 1903. Serial No. 187,014. (No model.)

T all 1117mm it y con/067"": suitable elevating means which raise them Be itknown that we, TALBOT (J. DEXTER and away from the pile at the completion of their HENRY HALLSTREAM, both citizens of the forward stroke and hold them in elevated po- 0 United States, and residents of Pearl River, in sition .while they are moved rearwardly pre- 5 the county of Rockland and State of New York, paratory for a new stroke.

haveinvented certain new and usefulIrnprove- Our improved sheet-moving mechanism ments 1n Paper-Feeding Machines, of which comprises a suitable carrier movable forthe following is a specification. wardly and baekwardly over the pile and con- The present invention relates to improvesisting, preferably, of a depending rock-arm, ro ments in the feeding-off devices'of automatic two sheet-moving instruments provided in paper-feedingmaehinesinwhichapileof sheets their forward free ends with frictional sheetis supported upon an automatically-elevated engaging blocks or pads and independently table and the successive sheets are acted upon journaled at their rear ends upon the movable first by sheet-buckling devices or equivalent carrier and provided with independent springs 15 means for preliminarily separating the sucfor normally depressing them into effective cessive sheets at one edge and afterward by engagement with the top sheet of the pile, suit-able feeding-off devices which take the elevating means consisting, preferably, of a partially-separated sheet and feed it forward rock-arm supporting a vertically-extending 5 from the machine to a printing-press, folder, rod or bar, and independent links pivotally 2o ruling-machine, or other machine designed to connected with the independent feeding in operate upon sheets ofpaper. struments and having pin-and-slot connections The present invention has for its object to with said depending rod or bar, whereby the improve the construction and operation ofindependent instruments areadapted to auto- 7 the feeding-off devices. In these large auto matically accommodate themselves to any un- 2 5 matic paper-feeding machines it is customary evenness in the top of the pile of sheets and to provide two sets of feeding-off devices arat the same time are provided with effective ranged about equal distances from the side means for raising the instruments away from edges of the pile of sheets and adapted to opthe pile when they complete their forward crate in parallel vertical planes above the pile stroke and are moved rearwardly preparatory 3 of sheets to engage the top sheet of the pile for another stroke.

in two parallel lines and moveitforwardlyout In order that our invention may be fully of the machine, with the front-edgeof the understood, we'will first describe the same sheet extending squarely across the machine; with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, In operating upon piles of large'sheets of paand afterward point out the novelty with 35 per the feeding-off devices must be arranged more particularity in the annexed claims.

to automatically adjust themselves to the in In said drawings, Figure 1 is a detail secequalities in the top surface of the pile, since tional elevation of part of a paper-feeding mathe top surface of such piles almost invariably chine having our improved feeding-off devices 5 have elevations and valleys in them over which applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the 4 the feeding-off devices must pass without lossame.

ing their grip upon the sheet which is being l is part of the framework of any suitable fed forward. paper-feeding machine, and 2 is one of a se- The main feature of novelty in our present ries of underfeed-rollers suitably journaled in 9 invention consists in providing a sheet-movthe machine-frame in the path of the sheets 45 ing mechanism with two independentlyand adapted to cooperate with the usual dropmounted sheet-moving instruments having infeed rollers, (which are not shown.) dependent lost-motion connections with P indicates a pile of sheets which is supported on an antomatically-elevated table or platform, (which is not shown.)

indicates one of a series of vertical platesor bars arranged at the front edge of a pile of sheets for maintaining it in alinemcnt.

is the cam-shaft of a paper-feeding machine from which all of the operative parts of the machine are driven.

is a rock-shaft suitably journaled in the upper part of the feeding-machine frame above the pile of sheets and extending transversely of the machine from side to side. This rockshaft 10 supports and. actuates the feeding-off devices, which will presently be described, it being understood that in a machine of the type referred to two sets of feeding-off devices are arranged to operate in parallel vertical planes above the pile of sheets. i

11 is a rock-arm keyed to the rock-shaft 10 by means of a set-screw 12 and projecting downwardly therefrom toward the pile of sheets. This rock-arm 11 is preferably formed with a longitudinal slot 13.

15 is an adjustable extension of rock-arm 11, said extension being formed with enlargements 15 and 15 for the purpose presently to be explained. The extension 15 is adapted to lit upon one face of the slotted end of rockarm 11 and is confined thereon by means of a headed bolt 16, passing through the slot 13 and through a perforation in the extension 15, and a nut 17, threaded upon the bolt 16 and securely clamping the extension 15 upon the rock-arm 11 in the desired adjusted position. This extension 15 may be adjusted toward or away from the pile of sheets for lengthening or shortening the rock-arm 11.

20 and 21 are independent sheet-moving fingers journaled, respectively, upon bolts 22 and 23, mounted, in the enlargements 15 and 15" of the rock-arm extension 15. These feedfingers 20 and 21 are freely journaled upon said bolts, and each one is provided with an independent spring 24, mounted upon the bolt 22 or 23 and engaging the finger for giving it a normal downward tendency to move into engagement with the top of the pile of sheets. The forward end of each feed-finger 20 and 21 is of yoke shape, as shown at 26 and 27, and mounted in the downwardly-presented hook ends of the yoke-arms of said fingers are the soft-rubber friction-rolls 30 and 81, which are free to rotate in their bearings except when engaged by the knife-edges 32, when the fingers are moved forwardly in a manner well understood in the art.

is a second rock-shaft suitably journaled in the machine-frame and extending from side to side of the machine above and parallel with the main rock-shaft 10. This second rock-shaft 35 carries a forwardly-projecting rock-arm 36, which is adjustably keyed to it by means of the set-screw 37. The hub of the main rock-arm 11 is cut out, as indicated in dotted lines at 11 in Fig. 1, to receive the lower portion of the hub of rock-arm 36, the walls of said cut-out portion insuring the proper relative position of the rock-arm and affording a convenient means for adjusting them in unison transversely of the machine, the set-screws 12 and 37 being of course loosened before such adjustment can be accomplished.

40 is a rod or bar journaled at 41 in the outer end of rock-arm 36 and extending downwardly therefrom toward the independent feed-lingers 20 and 21. Said rod or bar 40 is formed at its lower end with the lateral extensions or lugs 42 and 43, in the outer ends of which are mounted the pins or screws 44.

45 and 46 are independent links pivoted, respectively, to the feed-fingers 20 and 21 at 47 and 48. These links 45 and 46 are formed at their upper ends with the elongated slots 50 and 51, with which engage, respectively, the pins 44, mounted in the lugs 42 and 43, suitable washers, such as 52, being confined by pins 44 to afford proper lateral bearing for the slotted upper ends of said links.

The rod or bar 40, links 45 and 46, and the pin-and-slot connection between said rod or bar and said links afford the independent lost-motion connection between the elevating means and the independent sheet-feeding fingers for the purpose of allowing each feed-finger entire freedom in automatically adjusting itself to the inequalities in the pile of sheets. For rocking the main rock-arm 11' forwardly and backwardly over the pile for imparting a feeding movement to the independent feed-fingers we provide the rockshaft 10 with an upwardly-extending rockarm 60, having pivotally connected to its upper end at 61 a link or pitman 62, which is formed with a slotted or yoked forward end 63, which embraces and guides upon the camshaft 5.

65 is the main cam, keyed to the shaft 5 and operating upon the antifriction-rollers 66 and 67, which are freely journaled upon the link 62 at opposite ends of the guide-yoke 63, so as to give the rock-arm 11 a positive movement forward and back over the pile.

The feed-iinger-elevating rock-shaft 35 is intermittently rocked for raising and lowering the feed-fingers at the proper moment by means of an upwardly-projecting rock arm 75, journaled at 76 to a link 77, formed with a bifurcated or yoked end 7 8, which embraces and guides upon the cam-shaft 5 and carries an antifriction-roller79, which operates upon the periphery of a semicircular cam 80, which is keyed to the cam-shaft 5.

The operation of our sheet-feeding devices will be clear with but few words of explanation. Two sets of the feeding devices just described are employed in each machine, the operatlng means for the rock-shafts 10 and 35 not being duplicated. When the feeding devices start to operate, the frictional feed blocks or pads 30 and 31 arein contact with the top of the pile of sheets and the rock-arms 11 are in their extreme rear positions. The rockarms move forwardly, causing the frictionpads of the independent feed-fingers to frictionally engage the top sheets of the pile and move it forward from the pile, each finger being free to independently adjust itself to any inequalities in the top of the pile. When thefeed devices reach the limit of their forward movement, in which position they areshown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the rock-shaft 35 is moved to elevate rod or bar 40, which raises the feed fingers 20 and 21 through the pinand-slot connection with the links 45 and 46. The rock arms 11 are then moved rearward again while held in elevated position preparatory for a new stroke, when the feed-fingers are again lowered into engagement with the top of the pile and the operation is repeated.

Having thus described our invention, the following is what we claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a movable carrier, two sheet-moving instruments independently mounted upon said carrier in operative relation to the pile of sheets, and elevating means having an independent lost-motion connection with each of said instruments, whereby said instruments will be free to independently follow any unevenness in the top of the pile of sheets, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a movable carrier having means for moving it to and fro over the pile,two sheetmoving instruments independently pivoted upon said carrier, and elevating means having an independent pin-and-slot connection with each of said instruments, substantially as and i for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a rock -arm mounted above the said pile-support, means for rocking said rockarm to and fro over the pile, two sheet-moving instruments independently pivoted upon said rock-arm and supported thereby in operative relation to the top of the pile of sheets, and elevating means having an independent lost-motion connection with each of said instruments, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

1. The combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a longitudinallyeXtensible sectional rock-arm mounted above the said pilesupport, means for rocking said rock-arm to and fro over the pile, two sheet moving instruments independently pivoted upon said rock-arm and supported thereby in operative relation to the top of the pile of sheets, and

elevating means having an independent lostmotion connection with each of said. instruments, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination in a feeding-machine, of a suitable frame, a support for a pile of sheets, a rock-shaft journaled in said frame above the said pile-support, a rock-arm keyed to and depending from said rock-shaft, said rock-arm being formed of two adjustably-connected sections by which the rock-arm may be lengthened or shortened, means for rocking said rock-shaft to cause the rock-arm to move to and fro over the pile, two sheet-moving instruments independently pivoted upon said rock-arm and supported thereby in operative relation to the top of the pile of sheets, and elevating means having an independent lost-motion connection with each of said instruments, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a rock-shaft journaled above said pile-support, suitable cam mechanism for rocking said shaft, a rock-arm depending from said rock-shaft, two sheet-moving instruments independently pivoted upon the lower end of said rock-arm, and elevating means independently connected with each of said instruments,

substantially as set forth.

. 7. The combination Witha support for a pile of sheets, of a movable carrier mounted above said pile-support, two sheet-moving instruments independently pivoted upon said carrier and supported thereby in operative relation to the top of the pile of sheets, an independent spring engaging each sheet-moving instrument for holding it into effective engagement with the top of the pile of sheets, and elevating means having independent lostmotion connections with said sheet-moving instruments, substantially as set forth.

8. Th e combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a movable carrier supported above the pile-support, two sheet-moving instruments independently pivoted upon said carrier and supported thereby in operative relation to the top of the pile of sheets, a rockshaft having means for operating it, a rockarm projecting from said rock-shaft, a rod or bar pivoted upon said rock-arm and depending therefrom, an independent link pivotally connected to each sheet-moving instrument, and pin-and-slot connections between said independent links and said depending rod or bar,

substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a rock-shaft journaled above said support, a rock-arm depending from said rockshaft, two sheet-moving fingers independently ITO a rod or bill pivotally mounted upon said sec able earn mechanism for operating said tWo ond rock-arm and depending there'lfrom, indei rock-shafts, substantiilly as set forth. )endent links )ivotzdl conneetec with saic r r 1 1 isheet-moving iingers nd each link formed EALBOF DEXTER y HENRY HALLSTREAM. With a long1tud1na1ly-slotted upper end, 0p posite1y-projecting pins mounted upon the Vitnesses: lower end of said rod or bar and engaging the J. GREEN, slotted ends of said independent links, and suit- VVH. E. KNIGHT. 

